Dec 21, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) reacts while running onto the field prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Shook of NFL.com put together a starting lineup of the best players under the age of 25 and Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates not only made the list but was the only Bengal to do so.
Here’s what Shook had to say about his reason for including Bates on the list:
Bates is consistently among the leaders in Next Gen Stats’ coverage metrics, and he’s established himself as the heart of Cincinnati’s secondary in just three seasons.